0429 恩慈的不确定性
…将来如何，还未显明…《约翰一书 3:2》
我们的天然倾向是要非常精确，总是试图准确地预测接下来会发生什么，以至于我们视不确定是一件坏事。我们认为我们必须达到某个预定的目标，但那不是灵命的本质。灵命的本质是我们对我们的不确定是确定的，因此，我们不扎根。我们的常识说：「好吧，如果我处于那种情况下会怎么样？」我们不能假设自己置身于我们从未经历过的任何情境中。
确定性是常识生活的标志——优雅的不确定性是属灵生活的标志。对神的确定意味着在我们一切道路上都不确定，不知道明天会发生什么；这通常是以悲伤的叹息来表达，但它应该是一种屏息以待的表达。我们不确定下一步，但我们确定神。我们舍弃自己给神，并完成祂赋予我们最近的任务，祂就立即开始以惊喜充满我们的生活。当我们仅仅成为某种特定信仰的倡导者或捍卫者时，我们里面的某些东西就会死去。那不是相信神——那只是相信我们有关祂的信仰。耶稣说：「你们若不回转，变成小孩子的样式……」（马太福音 18:3），属灵生命就是孩童的生命。我们不是不确定神，只是不确定祂接下来要做什么。如果我们的确定性只在我们的信仰中，我们就会产生一种自以为是的感觉，变得过于挑剔，并被我们认为我们的信仰是完整和确定的这个观点所限制。但当我们与神有正确的关系时，生活就会充满自发的、喜乐的不确定性和期待。耶稣说「你们也当信我」（约翰福音 14:1），而不是「信关于我的某些事」。把一切都留给祂，祂如何来到，那将是荣耀而恩慈的不确定，但你可以确定祂会来，要对祂保持忠诚。
来自章伯斯的智慧
如果在我们里面所有败坏中只有一根信心的绳索，神也会抓住那一根。《不知往何处去》
0429 Gracious Uncertainty
…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be… —1 John 3:2
Our natural inclination is to be so precise– trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next– that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God– it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “…believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in– but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
If there is only one strand of faith amongst all the corruption within us, God will take hold of that one strand. Not Knowing Whither, 888 L